Sphygmomanometer.



G. J. FILLING.

SPHYGMOMANOMETER.

APPLICATION FILBDIEB.14,1914.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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SPHYGMOM'ANOMETBR.

APPLICATION TILED FEB.14,1914.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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CHARLES J. FILLING, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPHYGMOMANOMETER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 19141.

Application filed February 14, 1914. SerIaI No. sumac.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. PILLINo,

a citizen of the United States, residing atv Lansdowne, in the count of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, lave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sphygmomanometers, of which the followinc; is a specification.

Iy invention relates to improvements in sphygmomanometers for measuring and indicating blood pressure, wherein, as generally stated, are employed a manometer, a tourniquet adapted to be applied to a member of the human body and provided with an air sack connected to the manometer, a pump suitably connected to supply air to the pneumatic system including the manometer and the sack, valves for controlling the pressure in the pneumatic system and a suitable scale adjacent to the pressure indicating tube of the manometer.

It is desirable that apparatus of this character shall be as light and compact as possible, to enable it to be readily carried about, and yet have a wide range of variation in indicating different degrees of pressure. It has been found difficult to provide a satisfactory appaartus having at once the desired wide range of variation in measuring and indicating difierent degrees of pressure and the desired capability of being packed within small compass, owing to the necessary length of the pressure indicating tube of the manometer.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty by improving and simplifying the construction of the apparatus in and about the pressure indicating tube, whereby it may be readily folded into an inoperative position and held therein, greatly reducing the length thereof and, consequently, increasing the compactibility of the entire apparatus, and whereby it may be readily unfolded from the inoperative to the operative position and firmly held in the latter position for use.

A further object of my invention is to provide the manometer with a novel and advantageous means of preventing the mercury or other liquid thereof from escaping therefrom when the pressure indicating tube is in the folded condition.

To these ends my invention consists of the elements and the combinations of them as hereinafter set :forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrats ing my invention, Figure 1, is a front elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus,

for measuring and indicating blood pressure, embodying my invention and showing the parts in position for use. Fig. 2. is a side elevation, partly in section, omitting the pump and the tourniquet and showing the indicating limb of the manometer in the folded or inoperative position by dotted lines. Fig. 3, is a sectional detail on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, showing the joint in the indicating tube of the manometer and the parts thereof in the unfolded or operative position. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail showing the parts shown'in Fig. 3 in the folded or inoperative position. Fi 5, is a plan view of the combined latch an closing device for the indicating limb of the manometer showing its support in section and the device in the lowered position. of the combined latch and closing device, showing a part of its support and the device in the raised position. section, on line 77 of Fig. 1, showing a part of the manometer and one of the valves. Fig. 8, is an elevation, partly in section, showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 9, is a sectional detail, showing the joint in the indicating tube illustrated in Fig. 8, and showing the parts of the tube in the unfolded or operative position. F lg. 10, is a sectional detail. showing the parts shown in Fig. 9 in the folded or inoperative position. Fig. 11. is a side view of the scale for reading the column of liquid in the indicating tube, showing the support for the scale in section. Fig. 12, is a view of another modification.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a rectangular box or casing provided with a lid 6 arranged between and pivoted to the side walls thereof, at 5. The lid 6 is movable on the pivot 5 from a position closing the top of the casing to the vertical position shown, and it is Supported in the vertical position by an arm 8 pivoted at its upper end to a bracket on the lid 6 and having a notch 9 engaging a pin 10 on one side wall of the casing 2. By disengaging the notch 9 in the arm 8 from the pin 10 the lid 6 may be lowered to the top of the casing, closing the same. The arm 8 has a long slot 11 formed therein through which the pin 10 extends, thereby maintaining the pin an}? arm in proper working relation to each 0t er.

Fig. 6, is an elevation Fig. 7, is a vertical The lid 6 forms a support for a mercury or other liquid manometer 12 comprising a vertical indicating tube 13, and a liquid container 14 communicating with the bottom of the indicating tube 13 and adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and force the liquid into the indicating tube. The top of the container 14 is connected by a flexible tube 15 to a short rigid pipe 16 carried by a bracket 17 which is secured to the lid 6.

The'pipe ,16 is provided with two outwardly projecting nipples 18 and 19, the lower nipple 18 being connected by a flexible tube 20 to the air sack 21 on the inner portion of a suitable tourniquet 22, and the upper nipple 19 being connected by a flexible tube 23 to an air supplying means or pump 24 which may be of any suitable form and which may be constructed as disclosed in my Patent No. 1054866. dated March 4, 1913. The pipe 16 is provided with a suitable needle valve 25 to control the discharge of air from the pneumatic system in which is included the mercury container 14 and air sack 21 of the tourniquet 22. The pipe 16 is also provided with a suitable valve 26 by means of which communication between said pneumatic system and the air supplying device 24 may be opened and closed.

The tourniquet 22 may be of any approved type for the purpose intended, and, as illustrated, it comprises a bandage of fabric or suitable inelastic material and of suitable length having the rubber air sack 21 incased in a pocket in one end thereof. In applying the illustrated tourniquet to the limb of the patient, the end carrying the air sack 21 is first placed around the limb to be constricted and the remainder of the bandage is wrapped around the limb and the air sack, and the outer end of the bandage is then pinned or otherwise suitably held in place.

According to my invention, the indicating tube 13 of the manometer is made in two sections 27 and 28, and the upper section 28 is movable from the open or operative position shown by full lines in Figs. 2 and 8 to the compact inoperative position shown by dot-and-dash lines in Figs. 2 and 8. The two sections of the indicating tube 13 are formed of glass and, preferably, the container 1d and its connection to the lower section 27 of the indicating tube are also formed of glass and integral with the section 27.

The form of embodiment of my invention relating to the hinged sections of the indicating tube 13, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is astollows Embracing the upper end of the lower section 27 is a collar 29 formed on a bracket 30 which is secured 'to the lid 6, andembracing the lower end of the upper section 28 is-a collar31. The-lower section 27 is further secured to the lid 6 by spaced forwardly and downwardly extend I ing arms 35 hinged to the arms 34, at 36, whereby the upper section 28 may be moved on the hinge 36 from the operative position, shown by full lines in Fig. 2, to the compact inoperative position. shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, and back again.

The forward portions of the collars 29 and 31 have vertical slots 4 therein, as shown, and the arms 31- and 35 are arranged on the respective sides of the slots to permit the column of mercury within the sections 27 and 28' to be viewed through the slots and through the space between the arms, as shown in Fig. 1. Adjacent to the meeting ends of the tube sections 27 and 28 is a combined latch device tpr holding the upper tube section 28 in the operative position and a closing device for the upper end of the lower tube section 27, when the upper section is in the inoperative position. This combined device comprises a bracket 37 secured to the lid 6, an arm 38 pivoted, at 39, to the bracket 37 and a spring 40 encircling the pivot pin and having one end engaged with the lid 6 and the other end engaged with the arm 38 and. tending to move the arm 38 on the pivot 33 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The arm 38 has an opening 41 therein into which a pin 12 on the collar 31 passes, when the upper section 28 is moved to the operative position where it is held against return movement to the inoperative position by the arm 38. When the tube sections are in the operative position, they are in alinement with each other and their adjacent ends carry compressible packing rings 4-3 which engage each other and form a tight joint between the tube sections when in alinement. The packing rings are arranged so that they will contact with each other hetore sections 27 and 28 come into alineinent,

when the section 28 is moved to the operative position; therefore, as the section 28 completes its movement to the operative position, the packing rings 43 will be compressed, and the arm 38 will not only hold the upper section 28 in the operative position but it will also hold the packing rings 13 in compressed condition. When it is desired to lower the upper section 28 to the in operative position, the arm 38 is moved back toward the lid 6 against the action of the spring 40 to release the projection 42, and for this purpose I provide the arm 38 with a laterally extending thumb piece or projection 44. The arm 38- is provided with a plate-like enlargement 4:5 which is pressed down upon the asking ring 43 on the top of the section 2 and closes the upper end thereof when the section 28 is in the inoperative position, as shown in Fig, 4.

The parts are arranged so that by first disengaging the arm 38 from the pin 42 and then releasing the arm and lowering the tube section 28 to the inoperative position, the arm 38 will follow the section 28 until the section leaves the art 45 of the arm 38 resting upon the pacing ring on top of the section 27, and so that the raisingof the section 28 to the operative position will also raise the arm 38 and cause it to automatically engage the pin 42 to hold the upper section in the operative position. The normal level of the mercury within the indieating tube 13 is below the top of thelower section 27 thereof, and, therefore, the closin device 45 serves to prevent accidental spilling of the. mercury when the upper section is in the compact inoperative position and the device is carried about; and when the tube sections are in the alined, operative position they are in communication with each other, and a column of mercury may be forced upwlardly through both sections by the introduction of air pressure to the mercury container 14. A suitable pair of spring arms 46 is secured to the lid 6 and arranged to embrace the section 28 and hold it in the inoperative position.

The form of embodiment of my invention relating to the hinged sections of the indicating tube 13. as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is as follows: The upper end of the lower sect on 27 is firmly seated in a socket in a bracket 47 which is secured to the lid 6. The bracket 47 is provided with a stud 48 which extends laterally and horizontally therefrom. and mounted to turn on this stud 48 is the lower end of a connecting member 49. The upper end of the member 49 has a socket formed therein in which the lower 45.

end of the upper tube section 28 is firmly seated. The bracket 47 and member 49 thus provide a hinge on which the upper tube sect on may be moved from the operative position, shown by full lines in Fig. 8 to the compact inoperative position. shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 8', and back again. The member 49 is held rotatably in place upon the stud 48vby a suitable head 50 on the end of the stud; and the bracket 47 and member 49 are provided with openings or passageways 51 and 52, which are in communication with each other and with the twotube sections 27 and 28, respectively, when the upper section 28 is in the raised or operative position. thereby establishing communi cation between the tube sections 27 and .28 when the section 28 is in the operative position. When. howeveig the upper section 213 is lowered to the inoperative .POSJUOII, the passageway 52 is moved from the passage;

way 51 and the u per end of the passageway 51 is closed by the body of the member 49 surrounding the stud 48, thus closing the upper end of the lower section and preventing the accidental spilling of the mercury from the lower section 27 when the upper section 28 is in the compact inoperative position and the apparatus is carried about. When the section 28 is in the raised or operative position, a column of mercury may be forced upwardly from one to the other and through both, sections 27 and 28 by the introduction of air pressure to the mercury container 14. A suitable pair of spring arms 53, similar to the arms 46, is secured to the lid 6 and arranged to receive and hold the upper section 28 in the raised or operative position.

Arranged adjacent to the indicating tube 13 is a scale 54 on which the pressure in the pneumatic system is indicated by the level of the mercury column in the indicating tube. The scale 54 comprises a lower section and an upper section 56. The lower section 55 is secured to brackets 57 which are vertically adjustable on brackets 58 secured to the lid 6. The upper section 56 has a long vertical slot 59 therein in which is slidably fitted a block 60 projecting from the upper portion of the lower section 55. The upper section 56 is also slidable between the forward face of the lower section 55 and the head of a screw 61 carried by the block 60 and extending over the forward face of the upper section 56. It will thus be seen that the upper section 56 may be moved from the extended or operative position, shown by full lines to the compact inoperative position shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 11. To maintain the upper scale section 56 in positions of adjustment, 1 provide a, friction spring 62 which is secured to the back of the lower section 55 and extends to and engages one side of the upper section 56, as shown. The vertical adjustment of the lower scale section 55 is provided to enable the entire scale to be set into proper relation to the normal level of the mercury.

To prevent the mercury from leaving the container 14 through the tube 15 during the handling and carrying the device when not in use and to prevent the quick exhaust of the air pressure from the container 14 from carrying mercury out through the tube 15 I-:prov1de the upper portion of the container. above the mercury therein, with a. spiral like tube 63 spaced from the wall of the container and through which the tube 15 communicates with the container.

From theconstruction described it will be seen that along indicating tube is provided, allowing a wide range of variation in indicating different. degrees of air pressure within the pncumaticsystcm, and that the apparatus may be folded into compact form by moving the ripper sections of the indicating tube 13 and the scale 54 into the compact inoperative position shown by dot-anddash lines. This being done, the tubes 20 and 23 may be removed from the nipples l8 and 19 and the lid lowered on its hinge or pivot 36 to the top of the casing, thereby inclosing the parts carried by the lid within the casing, and at the same time closing the end of the lower tube section 27.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 12, the sections 27 and 28 of the indicating tube 13 are hinged together by ,precisely the same means employed in the construction illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The mercury container, indicated at 14, however, is made much longer and narrower than the container 14: illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8, the cross sectional area of the container 14- being substantially the same as the cross sectional area of the indicating tube 13. The top of the container 14: opens into a valve casing having a rotatable valve plug 66 therein. The plug 66 has a nipple 67 to which a tube may be connected to connect the container to the other devices included in the pneumatic system. The plug 66 and nipple 67 have a passageway 68 extending therethrough and so arranged and connected with respect to the casing 65 and container 14: that when the plug 66 is in the position shown, the top of the container 14* will be closed and when the plug 66 is turned a. quarter revolution, the passageway 68 will be in communication with the container 14.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, and a manometer mounted on thesupport and having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube com- I municating with the container, said indicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position.

2. In apparatus 'of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer mounted on the support and having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body ofcon- V tained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, and means for holding said sections in the operative position.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer mounted on the support and riiaaoo having'a liquid container adapted to re ceive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from. an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, and means for holding said sections in the operative position, said means including :1 pi voted arm adapted to close the end of one of said sections when in the inoperative position. a

4. Tu apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a

manometer mounted on the support and having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from acompact inoperative position to an open operative position, and packing means clamped between the ends of said sections when they are in the operative position.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer mounted on the support and having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from a compact inoperative position to an openoperative position, packing means clamped between the ends of said sections when they are in the operative position. and a latch device arranged to hold said sections in the operative position. v v

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of. asupport, a manometer mounted on the support and having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said in dicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from a compact inoperative position toan open operative position, a compressible packing ring between the ends of said sections when they are in the operative position, and a latch device arranged to hold said sections in the operative position and said packing ring in compressed condition.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer having a liquidvcontainer adapted to receive air pressure against a body of and a lower section hinged together, said lower section being secured to said support and said upper section being movable on said hinge from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, and a latch arm mounted on said support and arranged to hold said upper section in the operative position and to close the upper end of the lower section when the upper section is in the inoperative position.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid'and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, sald indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section hinged together, said lower section being secured to said support and said upper section being movable on said hinge from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, a latch device mounted on said support and arranged to hold said upper section in the operative position, and means mounted on the support for holding said upper section in the inoperative position.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the. combination of a support, a

mancmeter'mounted on the support andhaving a liquid container. adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube coinmunicating with the container, said indicatin tube comprising two sections hinged together and movable on said hinge from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, and means for automatically closing the upper end of the lower section of said tube when the upper section thereof is moved to the inoperative position. a

10. In apparatus of the character described, the crmhination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section hinged together, said lower'secticn being secured to said su port and said upper section being movab e on said hin e from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each'cther to a compact inoperative position, and a spring actuated closin device arranged to close the upper end 0 said lower section when said upper section is moved to the inoperative position.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination-of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section hinged together, said lower section being secured to said support and said upper section being movable on said hinge from an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, and a spring actuated arm extending over the adjacent ends of said sections when the upper section is in the inoperative ositicn, said arm having a closing device or closing the upper end of said lower section when said upper section is in the inoperative position, whereby when said upper section is moved to the operative position it will actuate said arm to move said closing device from the upper end of said lower section.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section hinged together, said lower section being secured to said su port and said up er section being movabe on said hinge rem an operative position in which said sections are in communication with each other to a compact inoperative position, and a spring actuated arm extending over the adjacent ends of said sections when the upper section is in the inoperative position, said arm having a closing device for closing the upper end of said lower section when said upper section is in the inoperative position, said arm havin a latch device arranged to engage a part 0 said upper section when it is moved to the operative position, whereby when said upper section is moved to the operative position it will actuate said arm to move said closing device from the upper end of the lower section and to engage said latch device with the 'ipper section.

13. In apparatus of the character dcscribed, the combination of a support, a manometer mounted on the support and having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising two sections hinged together and one movable on said hinge from a compact inoperative position to an open operative position, a compressible packing ring between the ends of said sections when they are in the operative position, and means to hold said sections in the operative position with the packing ring compressed therebetween.

it. In apparatus ot the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section, said lower section being mounted on said support and said upper section being movable into an operative position in communication'with said lower section and to an inoperative position out of communication with said lower section, and a pivoted closing device arranged to move vertically toward and from the upper end of said lower section and to close the same when said upper section is in the inoperative. position.

15. la apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air-pressure against a body of contained #liquid and a vertical indicating lJUbGCOIIIIHUHICtLtlIlg with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower'se'ction, said 10 er section being mounted on said support and said upper section being movable into an operative position in communication with said lower section and to an inoperative position out of communication with said lower section, a pivoted closing device arranged to close the upper end of said lower section when said upper section is in the inoperative position, and a spring arranged to move said device toward the upper end of said lower section.

- 16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lowersection, said lower sectionbeing mounted on said support and said upper section being movable into an operative position in communication with said lower section'and to an inoperative position out of communication with saidlower section, a pivoted closing device arranged to close the upper end of said lower section when said upper section is in the inoperative position, a compressible packing ring between said device and the upper end of said lower sec tion, and a spring arranged to move said device toward the upper end of said lower section.

intense .lklln apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, and a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section hinged together, said lower section being mounted on said support and said upper section being movable on-said hinge into and from an operative position in communication and alinement with said'lower section, the turning axis of said hinge not intersecting the opening in the indicating tube.

18, in apparatus of the character described, the combination of a support, and

a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid, a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section. said lower section being mounted on said support, and means to guide said upper section from an inoperative position below the top of said lower section first to a position above the top of said lower section and then downwardly to and-upon said lower section and into an operative position in which said sections are in alinement with each other.

19. In apparatus of the character described, the' combination of a support, a manometer having a liquid container adapted to receive air pressure against a body of contained liquid and a vertical indicating tube communicating with the container, said indicating tube comprising an upper section and a lower section hinged together, said lower section being mounted on said support and said upper section being movable onsaid hinge into and from an operative position in communication with said lower section, the lower end of said upper section moving downwardly toward the upper end of said lower section when the upper section is moved to the operative position, 'a compressible packing ring between said sections, and means for holding said upper section in the operative position and said ring compressed therebetween.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. FILLING. Witnesses A. V. Gnomes, S. I. HARPER, 

